13 Fail-Safe Father's Day Gifts

With Father’s Day looming, many are still frenetically searching for that perfect item to please and appease the Dads in their life, and droves will spend toward that end. Last year, U.S. consumers spent billions on Father’s Day gifts across key categories, reportedly spending .83 billion dollars on tools and appliances, alone. With precious little time left to procure a suitable present, here’s a roundup of ideas across various price and product groups, from high-end style to helpful tech to some spicy and sweet treats. Surely there’s something here that’ll please.

William Henry boasts luxury, high-end pocket knives that are ideal for collectors and those who appreciate the finer things in life. There are two in particular that I adore, each sure to become treasured family heirlooms. One is the William Henry Monarch Corsair pocketknife that offers a rugged yet elegantly simple design that fits effortlessly in the hand. The knife frame is hand-carved sterling silver, inlaid with carbon fiber scale. The beautiful blade is incredibly sharp and features William Henry’s signature copper wave damascus steel with a VG-5 steel core. Citrine gemstones, a glassy yellow quartz varietal, is strategically layered throughout the blade and handle to proffer a shiny, bright glow. The Corsair is a gift that surely will be treasured for a lifetime before being handed down to the next generation.

Another distinctive design is the William Henry Kestrel Forest Glen. It’s perfect for the father who is a tireless adventurer, whether he’s fly-fishing the world’s most famous rivers or exploring remote forests–or is simply a master of his own domain. This exquisite and eye-catching pocketknife features a compact, light and resilient frame made from aerospace grade titanium, hand-forged “Hornets Nest” damascus blade and a handle inlaid with real Norway Blue Spruce pine cone. William Henry creates the pinecone handle by stabilizing the organic material with a color pigmented resin which enhances the contrast and gives the scales a blue or red tonality. Both knives feature a one-hand button lock system, leather carrying case, and are shipped in an elegant wood presentation box.

Dads who are active both in and out of the water will enjoy stylish, colorful, ocean-inspired Guy Harvey apparel and merchandise. Perfect for the boat, beach and the outdoors, the versatile apparel is designed to protect the skin from the elements. Guy Harvey boasts a unique blend of a world-renowned artist, scientist, diver, angler, conservationist and explorer! His childhood passion for the ocean and its living creatures not only inspired him to draw but fueled a burning interest that prompted a formal education in marine science. Harvey has continued his relentless pursuit to unravel the mysteries of the sea, traveling the world to better understand the habits and habitats of the marine wildlife he paints and that adorn products like apparel, footwear, jewelry, hats, kitchenware, stationery, tech and so much more. There are items for women and children, too. Also cause-conscious, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of all official Guy Harvey merchandise benefits the marine conservation research and education work of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF). This group will help ensure that future generations can enjoy and benefit from a naturally balanced ocean ecosystem.

Give Dad peace of mind knowing his family is safe day and night with EZVIZ Mini O 1080p. This is an indoor, smart home Wi-Fi camera device built for the connected home. The camera makes it easy to keep an eye on what’s happening in any room at any time. It has a magnetic base that easily clamps to any magnetic surface for easy setup, and once in place, you can adjust where the camera is aiming simply by moving it with your hand. Once you connect it to your network, you can view HD video any time from your smartphone, tablet or computer. It also has instant motion alerts: if the Mini O 1080p sees something move, it immediately takes a picture and sends an alert to your phone. It’s great for knowing when your child is waking up from a nap or moving around the house. The camera also offers real-time, two-way audio with a built-in speaker and mic, so Dad can easily listen and talk with family or interact with pets using the camera on his phone or tablet. So the next time Dad is away on business he can stay connected even easier.

The B-hyve Hose Faucet Timer is the perfect gift for the lawn-loving dad this Father’s Day. Announced at CES 2018, this smart Hose Faucet Timer allows dad to maintain control from anywhere with a cell or Internet connection. So, whether he’s in the garage, the comfort of his bed, at work, or halfway around the world, he can monitor and control the watering of his lawn and garden as if he were standing right next to the timer. With a sleek design and weatherproof housing, it is simple to set up, operate and save. Plus, as part of the B-hyve family, your faucet becomes smarter thanks to Smart WeatherSense technology whereby real-time weather updates create the perfect watering schedule for your lawn. This feature implements rain delays and gives detailed reports on performance and savings. It does the work, allowing dad to sit back and enjoy the results. Neighbors will be green with envy.

For music-loving Dads who would appreciate a truly professional headset, VocoPro's HP 200 Professional Monitoring Headphones are a great option. They're so good, this headset even gives DJs and KJs a clear and accurate idea of the overall mix that they are creating. The headphones offer a punchy bass range and super-clear sound, and the closed insulated earpads are super- comfortable, allowing Dad to hear the audio clearly by greatly reducing outside sound interference and background noise. The earlaps also rotate 90-degrees so he can use the headphones while operating a mixer. And, there's also an extra cable with a volume dial providing convenient control of that element. They also have flexible construction and a foldable design letting you take them pretty much anywhere.

The Lasko 48″ Performance Tower Fan with Fresh Air Ionizer features the power of a 20″ high-velocity fan in a streamlined body with a remote control and seven-hour timer convenience that won’t interrupt daily routines. With a slim, space-saving design preferring a small footprint and with widespread oscillation, this tall tower fan from Lasko is ideal for living areas, bedrooms, home offices and workout rooms. The built-in ionizer adds millions of negative ions to the air, creating a fresh air feeling like the great outdoors. It has three quiet speeds, and other features include Blue Plug™ Patented safety fuse technology and a built-in carry handle.

We live in a world with very high levels of energy interference from the constant exposure to technology. Addressing this is Energydots—a range of self-adhesive “dots” that have been programmed to harmonize the effects of man-made electromagnetic emissions that surround us in our wireless world. They are ultra slim and can be stuck to any non-porous surface, making them extremely versatile and user-friendly. EMF’s (electromagnetic frequencies) from phones, computers, Wi-Fi, etc, all emit low-level radiation. An increasing number of people find the constant exposure challenging and experience tiredness, inability to concentrate, headaches and anxiety. The Energydots come in a range of options and purposes, including bioDOT, which boosts energy and reduces stress levels—something Dad will surely appreciate. Each DOT is programmed with a powerful resonant energy signature that retunes energy interference to a natural harmonic state. The body no longer needs to react defensively to emissions from the “harmonized” device and electro-stress is relieved, leaving Dad with more energy for greater health and happiness.

Any Dad would love Speks, an addictive desk toy that can be smashed, mashed, or molded into any shape or pattern, relieving stress and bringing color and fun to even the grayest cubicle. There’s no wrong way or place to play. Just in time for the holiday, Speks has introduced a limited Father’s Day edition available through June 2018 called Spekties, for the Dad who deserves more than just another necktie. Perfect for Dads in the office, at home, or on the go, Spektie sets are available in three limited-edition color combinations: The On-the-Dot (purple and nickel), The All-American (red and nickel), and The Plaid Lad (blue and nickel). But even their usual options are super fun and addicting. Speks have infinite possibilities and zero expectations with no screens or Wi-Fi required.

Every wine has a body and life of its own and aerating wine after opening is key to maximize flavor, but now there’s no need to wait for this process. The Waerator W2 is an electric wine aerator and decanter, and is a great tech gift for the Dad who is a wine connoisseur, is a foodie, or loves to entertain. The device uses air to instantly soften natural tannins that create bitterness in order to draw out every bottle’s true qualities. Just attach it to the bottle, push the button, and it instantly aerates and dispenses the wine! He won’t have to wait for the wine to "breathe" ever again and his wine will stay fresh all night. Waerator also locks to prevent spills and seals the bottle so there’s no need to re-cork. Waerator also acts as a 3-in-1 Electric Wine Opener that will remove the foil, extract the cork and seal the bottle with just the push of a button! It’s a thoughtful and useful gift he’ll get years of enjoyment out of.

Performa, the world-class fitness accessory company, recently launched an extended line of Avengers-themed shaker bottles that’ll allow Dad to rehydrate and refuel like his favorite hero or villain. The new bottle designs include: Captain America, Hulk, Ironspider, Ant-man, Black Widow, Star Lord, Thanos, War Machine, Iron Man, Groot and Gamora. Every Performa Perfect Shaker is designed with the athlete in mind and built to deliver against the demands it will endure. The lightweight shaker cups have a 100 percent leak free guarantee and use a duraplex shatter-resistant plastic. Mix, pour, and store all in the same container with action rod technology ensuring the smoothest blend. Performa proudly stands behind design, quality, materials and workmanship that goes into every ultra-premium product made.

For Dads who want to build muscle or generally keep their nutrition game on point, consider Protein Energy Power by Protein Plus—a great tasting, all-natural vegan protein powder drink made from peanuts. It can be blended in 30 seconds as part of a smoothie or simply mixed with eight ounces of water or milk. Protein Energy Power contains 17 grams of protein per serving, is high in fiber, low in sodium and to top it all off, is cholesterol free. It is also a great option for people who are allergic to lactose and want a soy-free product. It also contains 25 essential vitamins and minerals, omega three, and a probiotic blend to aid with digestion. It is GMO-free and contains no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or whey. Protein Energy Power comes in four flavors: original, chocolate, honey and banana.

Melora Manuka Honey (In-Store: Costco San Diego)

For food and health-minded Dads, a thoughtful gift idea is Melora—the only UMF-certified, non-GMO manuka honey on the market that’s now available in the United States. Celebrated for its antibacterial properties, Melora Manuka Honey offers a guarantee on quality, purity, and responsible harvesting practices, underscoring the most healing properties of the manuka super plant. Research shows that, when ingested, manuka honey can help with stomach problems such as H.Pylori (in in-vitro), which also links with internal health and wellbeing benefits. Additionally, more research is emerging on manuka’s prebiotic role in promoting beneficial bacteria and gut health. When applied topically, manuka honey has been shown to have antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral and antioxidant properties. Manuka honey is also a natural humectant for beauty and skin wellbeing, and has been used for its wound healing, acne care and skin infection-fighting capacities. Crucially, there are no reported cases of bacteria developing resistance to honey, nor can manuka or other honey resistance be generated in the laboratory. The UMF quality trademark is an indication to consumers that they are buying the best, 100% natural, unadulterated manuka honey.

Turn the ‘heat’ up for Dad this Father’s Day with Little Bird Kitchen’s candied jalapeño chocolates, syrup and powder. Everything is hot and sweet, with the kicker coming at the end. Each product is handcrafted and uses high-quality ingredients such as local, fresh jalapeños, premium Belgian chocolate and non-GMO cane sugar. Little Bird Kitchen products are kosher certified (dairy and pareve) and never use any preservatives. These deliciously candied jalapeños bring an elevation in flavor to whatever you are eating. The current product line includes: Fire Bites–candied jalapeño dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate bites, Fire Syrup–candied jalapeño syrup, Fire Powder–candied jalapeño powder and Hot & Sweet Nuts–candied jalapeño peanuts.

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***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost or sponsored to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***

Merilee Kern

Branding, consumer product trends, leisure and lifestyle expert Merilee A. Kern is a good life connoisseur who keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. The best of the best across all product, service and travel categories–as well as noteworthy marketplace change ...(Read More)